Golf-tee.



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GOLF TEE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. 191a.

Patented Dec. 4, 191?.

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GOLF TEE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 6. l9l6- m Patented; Dec. 41, 191 K.

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ISAAC KAISER, 0F "WILKINQB'URG, PENNSYLVANIA.

GOLF-TEE.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC DE KAISER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vfilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a.

new and useful Improvement in Golf-Tees, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to golf tees and particularlyto such devices as are adapted for continued use.

My invention has for one of its objects to provide a device of the character indicated above that is movably mounted and autoof forming tees or supports for golf balls for driving from the teeing grounds are Very unsatisfactory. It is necessary to form the tees manually from wet sand, a supply of water and' of sand being kept on each teeing ground for that purpose. Such methods have a number of disadvantages both from the standpoint of the of the golf club.

The hands of the player are soiled by player and from that handling the materials for making the tees.

It is practically impossible to construct tees of uniform height and a slight difference in that regard may cause a poor drive or a foozle. Tn coldweather, the handling of the Wet materials causes discomfort. In

' case of freezing temperatures, the inconvenience and impracticability of the usual arrangement are obvious.

The use of sand and water necessitates that a supply of these materials be kept on each teeing ground, a considerable amount of time and labor being expended for this purpose. In case the grounds are covered with clay, the use of sand causes the surfaces to be disagreeably loose and dusty. If a grass surface is employed, the sand injures the grass and thus damages both the appearance and the playing surface of the teeing grounds. 4

It has been proposed, heretofore, to provide tees ready for use and these may be of such material as to retain their form after being used. c Such devices are inconvenient, however, for it is either necessary to re- Specification of Letters latent.

Application filed October 6, 1916. serial No. 1%,0M.

Patented Dec. a, ram.

sired height'is mounted on each of the driving greens and it may remain in any desired spot as long as deslred. The ball-supporting member is arranged in the form of a pendulum and is adapted to move readily out of the path of movement of the players club when actuated, in order not to interfere with the stroke. The pendulum member operates to automatically return to an operative position after a ball has been driven from it, for the succeeding drive.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. '2 is a view, in side elevation, of the device of Fig. l, a golf ball being shown in operative relation. Figs. 3 and 4 are views respectively in top plan and side elevation of the pendulum or ball-supporting member. Fig. 5 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the ball-supporting member, taken at right angles to Fig. 4. Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively end and side views of the weight constituting a part of the pendulum member. Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are respectively top, side and bottom views of one of the easing members. tudinal section, of the device mounted in position for actual use, the pendulum member being shown in a position assumed upon its being actuated.

A casing '1 or housing, of substantially rectangular shape, is composed of two parts 2 and 3, that are held together by stud bolts or screws 4. The part '2 is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. The part 3 corresponds to part 2. Each of the casing members is provided with an integral flange 5 which extends at right angles from the side and in each direction from the ends of the casing member. The flanges together present a plane surface of comparatively large area. The casing members may be of brass, iron or other suitable material. Each of the flanges 5 is provided with a rectangular notch 6.

Each of the casing members is provided with a groove 7 extending downwardly from the notch G, the upper end of the groove being open. The lower ends of the grooves constitute bearing members for pivotally Fig. 11 is a view, in longigram - 1 surface of the plate 17 substantially flush the weight 11 is provided with a circum erential groove 1.2.

trated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, consists of a body portion 9 thatis substantially square in cross section. An enlarged lower portion 10 is arranged in the form of a ring to inclose andsupport a weight 11 of brass, lead or other suitable material. As shown in Fi .7,

The upper portion 13 of the pendulum member 8 is tapered to have substantially the form of a square pyramid, the top por-' tion having a concave recess 14 for receiving a golf ball. The member 8 is supported in the grooves 7 by "a short shaft 15 having a knurled portionindicated at 16. The member 8, which is preferably of rubber, compo- SitiQEg-OI' other suitable flexible material, is constructed by molding, the-grooved weight 11 and the knurled shaft 15 being properly positioned in the mold previously. The result is practically an integral structure.

The upper surface of the flanges 5 is covered by a plate 17.0f rubber, fiber, composition or other suitable material having the 7 characteristics of being waterproof and of durability. The cover plate 17 is provided wlth a rectangular slot 18 that coincides with the slot formed by the notches 6.

When the several parts occupy their nor; mal positions as shown in Fig. 2, it will be noted that the tapered portion 13 of the member 8 projects above the surface of the plate 17 and is adjacent to one end of the slot 18. In practice, the length of the projecting portion 13, which corresponds to the usual tee, and which, for convenience, may

shown in Fig. -11.

be designated as such, is arranged to meet hal inch being the usual standard length. This height may, however, be varied by substituting a pendulum member having any desired dimensions.

The device is mounted with the upper with the surface of the teeing ground, as The mechanismis so positioned relatively to the course that its lo n 'tudinal axis is in substantial alinement wit the direction in which the ball is to be driven, the unoccupied portion of the slot 18 being placed forwardly in order that the tee 12 may be free to move in the direction of the stroke. e

In the operation of the deviceabove described, a ball 19 is placedin the concave recess 14 of the tee 13', as shown in Fig. 2.

The weight ofthe bottom portion of thependulum member 8 is SllfilClGIllJ to preventthe weight of the ball from rendering the tparticular requirements of the users, onethe supporting means unstable. The p ayer makes his stroke in the usual manner.

.-If the height of the stroke has been properly gaged the club does not strike the tee ter is practically undisturbed. If,

however, the club strikes sufficiently loW that the tee is engaged by it, the latter yields readily both by reason of its flexibility and its pivotal mounting. The tee recedes momentarily into the rectangular -recess, the pendulum assuming approximately the position illustrated in Fig. 11 and indicated by dotted lines inFi g. 2. f

The pendulum is at once restored to its normal upright position by force of gravity. The adjacent end of the slot acts as a stop to prevent oscillation of the tee beyond its operative position. The tee is then ready for the drive of the succeeding player.

While my invention is intended for use in connection with the usual play on a olf course, 1t is of particular value when use in making practice strokes in driving. It IS also of great assistance to the so-called professional or instructor during the process of teaching the art of driving to a novice. Itwill be readily understood that the opera- -tion of constructing a tee for each stroke under the above conditions becomes a burdensome labor, and, in addition, much valuable time is consumed.

The device is arranged to permit such Water as may enter the casing or housing to escape through the opening in the bottom. By reason of the fact that the body portion is'of relatively small dimensions, the device may be readily shifted from one point on the teeing ground to another, as desired.

The various materials employed are such as possess qualities of durability and are substantially unaffected by continuous exposure to the elements. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains and it is understood that such changes may be made as fall within. the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In-a golf tee, the combination'with a casing comprising side portions having vertically-extending grooves therein, said casing having a horizontally-extending slot, of

a pendulum-like ball supporting member having a pin extending into said grooves to form a pivotal support for said member above its center of gravity whereby it has a normal upright position in which it proects through said slot and adjacent to one end of the latter.

2. .In a-golf tee, the combination with a member having a horizontally-extending surface, of a ball-supporting member pivotally supported thereby having a normal eashes position in which it projects vertically beyond'said surface and an abnormal position in which the projecting portion is at least partially below said surface, said ball-supporting member being so constructed as to return automatically to its normal position, and means for preventing the return of said member beyond its normal position.

3. In a golf tee, the combination with a stationary housing having an opening in its upper surface, of a ball-supporting member pivotally supported by said housing and normally projecting through said opening, said member receding into said opening upon being actuated and having the inherent characteristic of automatically returning to its normal position adjacent to one end of said opening which constitutes a stop for saidmember. v

4. In a olf tee, the combination With a housing, of .a ball-supporting member pivof material molded around the shaft and Weight member to form a substantially integral structure.

5. In a golf tee, the combination with a. housing, of a ball-supporting member pivotally mounted therein having a normal po sition in which it projects therefrom, said member being provided with a recess for receiving a ball and comprising a supporting shaft, a weighted portion below said shaft and a body portion of flexible material.

6. In a golf tee, the combination with a casing member having a flange member at ,least a portion of which is adapted to be placed substantially flush with the surrounding surface, said casing member having a slot therein, of a ball-supporting member freely suspended therein and so arranged as to automatically return to its operative position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto otally mounted therein having a normal po--- subscribed my name this 5th day of Octosition in which it projects therefrom, said member being provided with a supporting shaft, a Weight member and a body portion ber, 1916.

ISAAC DE KAISER. 

